Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meilomit&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which forms in abundance attractive double blossoms that are Marigold Orange suffused with red in coloration. Such blossoms possess a light fragrance. The plant exhibits a bushy growth habit, and forms decorative dense dark green foliage that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The plant also maintains well its attractive appearance even at the end of the blooming season. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing colorful ornamentation in the landscape.

[0001] This is a Continuation of U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.10/299,914, filed Nov. 20, 2002, which is a Continuation of U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 09/573,163, filed May 19, 2000 (nowabandoned).

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

[0002]Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

[0003] cv. ‘Meilomit’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The new Rosa hybrida variety of Floribunda rose plant was createdby artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) ofthe new variety was the ‘Meigurami’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,625).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the crossof the ‘Allgold’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,665) and the ‘YellowCushion’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No., 2,849). The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:

‘Meigurami’×(‘Allgold’×‘Yellow Cushion’).

[0005] The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown andsmall plants were obtained which were physically and biologicallydifferent from each other. Selective study resulted in theidentification of a single plant of the new variety.

[0006] It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

[0007] (a) forms in abundance attractive double blossoms that areMarigold Red suffused with red in coloration,

[0008] (b) exhibits a bushy growth habit,

[0009] (c) forms decorative dense dark green glossy foliage, and

[0010] (d) is particularly well suited for growing as ornamentation inparks and gardens.

[0011] The blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the dark greenfoliage. Also, the plant maintains well its attractive appearance evenat the end of the blooming season.

[0012] The new variety of the present invention can be readilydistinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the blossoms of the‘Meigurami’ variety are smaller and are pink in coloration instead ofMarigold Red suffused with red. The blossoms of the ‘Allgold’ varietyare yellow. The ‘Yellow Cushion’ variety also forms yellow blossoms anddisplays more pointed buds.

[0013] The new variety well meets the needs of the horticulturalindustry and is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

[0014] The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation inFrance by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage.Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in the South ofFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another.

[0015] The new variety has been named the ‘Meilomit’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0016] The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of thischaracter, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. Therose plants of the new variety were two years of age and were observedduring September while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growingoutdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimetersare indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

[0017]FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

[0018]FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the openingof the sepals;

[0019]FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening ofthe sepals;

[0020]FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening ofthe petals;

[0021]FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course ofopening;

[0022]FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

[0023]FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

[0024]FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—obverse;

[0025]FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—reverse;

[0026]FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

[0027]FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

[0028]FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

[0029]FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

[0030]FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

[0031]FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

[0032]FIG. 16—illustrates a leaf with seven leaflets—plan view—uppersurface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description isbased on the observation of two year-old plants during October whilebudded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannetdes Maures, Var, France. The coloration in common terms precedesreference to the chart in some instances.

[0034] Class: Floribunda.

[0035] Plant:

[0036]Height.—approximately 60 to 70 cm. on average at the end of thegrowing season.

[0037]Width.—approximately 70 to 80 cm. on average at the end of thegrowing season.

[0038]Habit.—bushy.

[0039] Branches:

[0040]Color.—young stems: Yellow-Green Group 147B with slightanthocyanin coloration near Greyed-Orange Group 176A. — adult wood:Green Group 138A.

[0041]Thorns.—size: medium (as illustrated). Mature thorns commonly areapproximately 8 to 10 mm. in length on average, and immature thornscommonly measure approximately 6 to 8 mm. in length on average. —quantity: numerous (as illustrated). — color: mature thorns are nearGreyed-Orange Group 166B and immature thorns are near Greyed-OrangeGroup 176A. — configuration: deeply concave.

[0042] LEAVES:

[0043]Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, approximately 1.6 cm. in length onaverage, approximately 0.4 cm in width, and the coloration is near GreenGroup 137C on the upper surface and near Green Group 137D on the undersurface.

[0044]Petioles.—upper surface: glabrous and near Green Group 137A incoloration with slight anthocyanin coloration near Greyed-Orange Group176A. — under surface: slightly glandular, and near Yellow-Green Group148A in coloration.

[0045]Leaflets.—number: 3, 5, and 7. — shape: elliptic with an obtusebase and a tip that most commonly is obtuse and sometimes is cuspidate.— size: terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 4 cm. in length onaverage and approximately 2 to 2.5 cm. in width on average. — serration:minute and regular (as illustrated). — texture: leathery, smooth andglossy. — general appearance: very dense, dark green, and glossy. —color (young foliage): upper surface: dark green, near Green Group 136A.under surface: dark green, near Green Group 137A with some reddishanthocyanin coloration. — color (adult foliage): upper surface: darkgreen, near Green Group 139A. under surface: dark green, near GreenGroup 137A.

[0046] Inflorescence:

[0047]Number of flowers.—usually two to five flowers per stem.

[0048]Peduncle.—rigid and short, commonly with a few prickles, and withanthocyanin coloration near Greyed-Orange Group 176A.

[0049]Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose, commonly approximately 1.8 cm.in length and approximately 0.8 cm. in width on average, nearYellow-Green Group 148C and more or less suffused with reddishanthocyanin coloration. — under surface: glabrous, near Yellow-GreenGroup 146A and more or less suffused with reddish anthocyanincoloration. Some small extensions are present (as illustrated).

[0050]Buds.—shape: conical. — size: medium. — length: approximately 2cm. on average.

[0051]Flower.—shape: flat cup-shaped. — diameter: commonly approximately8.5 to 9.5 cm. — color (when opening begins): upper surface: MarigoldOrange, near Orange Group 28C and lightly suffused with Red Group 52D.under surface: Marigold Orange, near Orange Group 28C and lightlysuffused with Red Group 52D. — color (when blooming): upper surface:Marigold Orange, near Orange Group 28C and lightly suffused with RedGroup 52D. under surface: Marigold Orange, near Orange Group 28C andlightly suffused with Red Group 52D. — color (at end of opening): uppersurface: near Orange Group 29D at the base and near Red Group 49D at thetip. under surface: near Orange Group 29D at the base and near Red Group55D at the tip. — petal basal spot: small and near Yellow Group 12B incoloration on both surfaces. — petaloids: none observed to date. —fragrance: light. — lasting quality: the blossoms commonly lastapproximately 10 days on the plant. — petal shape: rounded, commonlyapproximately 3 cm. in length on average and approximately 3.6 cm. inwidth on average, and commonly possess slight margin undulation. — petalnumber: approximately 25 to 27 on average. — stamen number:approximately 95 on average. — anthers: near Orange Group 29C incoloration. — filaments: near Yellow Group 8B in coloration andapproximately 0.8 cm. in length on average. — pistils: approximately 32on average. — stigmas: near Yellow Group 11A in coloration. — styles:near Yellow Group 11D in coloration and approximately 0.6 cm. in lengthon average. — receptacle: smooth, near Yellow-Green Group 146A incoloration, commonly approximately 5.5 to 6 cm. in length and width onaverage, and in longitudinal section in the shape of a pitcher. — hips:smooth, substantially round, commonly measure approximately 2 cm. onaverage, and are orange in coloration. — seeds: each hip commonlycontains approximately 24 seeds on average that are cream-yellow incoloration.

[0052] Development:

[0053]Vegetation.—strong.

[0054]Blooming.—very abundant.

[0055]Resistance to diseases.—excellent with respect to Black Spot.

[0056]Aptitude to bear fruit.—good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) formsin abundance attractive double blossoms that are Marigold Orangesuffused with red in coloration, (b) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (c)forms decorative dense dark green glossy foliage, and (d) isparticularly well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks andgardens; substantially as herein shown and described.